After a year of discussion, the state grid operator has decided the two oldest generating units at CPS Energy’s Braunig Power Station will be shut down this spring, their capacity replaced by a fleet of portable generators paid for by utility customers across the state.

A plan to use a fleet of emergency generators from Houston to ease transmission woes in San Antonio could hit snags from emissions regulations. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ proposal set for a Tuesday vote came after months of back and forth over CPS Energy’s decision to shutter aging gas-fired units at its Braunig Power Station.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ board has agreed to finalize the proposal by Houston-based CenterPoint Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNP) to send its controversial mobile generators to San Antonio.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has given the approval for CenterPoint Energy to move ahead with a proposal to utilize 15 large emergency generation units to help address the state’s generation shortfall concerns.

CenterPoint will no longer charge its customers for unused generators in the Houston region once those units are donated to San Antonio this summer.

The average Houston Electric customer using 1,000 kWh/month will witness a reduction in bills of an estimated $2/month related to the transaction by 2027.

Senate Bill 6 would require companies to use those generators for a short time when demand is high. The bill currently defines a large load as 75 megawatts. “If we can tap into that backup generation during peak periods, that helps to improve reliability right away in the short term,” he said.

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According to ERCOT, the board has approved a proposal from CenterPoint Energy to install 15 new large emergency generators. This proposal will help to address potential energy

ERCOT said that the loss of those units ... the public for not deploying the generators in its response to Hurricane Beryl, which left millions in Houston in the dark for days. The Public Utility Commission had allowed CenterPoint to increase its customers ...

An arctic blast has enveloped Texas, plunging temperatures well below freezing in many regions of the state. Despite the extreme cold, the state’s electrical grid operator says it has met the higher demand for electricity.

"CenterPoint is fully prepared, the company has the resources it needs to support any restoration efforts that may arise over the coming days due to the cold weather event,” said Anderson. She says that includes pre-stationing crews across the Houston area so they can quickly reach impacted areas and restore power.